Samuel Rutherford: Against eternal justification

[Reformed Covenanter]

We hold against Antinomians that we are never justified till we believe. They say from eternity we were justified; or from the time that the Messiah died, all sins were finished, and we justified, or from our birth. But justification in God’s decree and purpose from eternity, is no more justification then Creation, sanctification, glorification, the crucifying of Christ, and all things that fall out in time; for all these were in the eternal purpose of God. ...

All that are justified, are unseparably sanctified and called, and the blessing of justification hath with it, the receiving of the promise of the Spirit, through faith, and peace with God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, access by faith into grace, whereby we stand, rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God, glorying in tribulation, patience, experience, hope; but many for whom Christ died have none of these, till they be justified by Faith; the distinction of justification in, or before God, or to our own sense by faith, will not help this; for the Scripture no where speaketh of justification, but by faith only; the meritorious price of our justification is paid on the Crosse, but that is not justification. ...

For more, see Samuel Rutherford: Against eternal justification.